IO launches new report Measuring Success: The Impact of the Interactive Digital Media Sector in Ontario

Ontario’s Interactive Digital Media (IDM) sector has long been credited for its innovations in game development, eLearning, mobile and VR, but a new report prepared by Nordicity and released by Interactive Ontario finds that IDM is also making considerable contributions to Ontario’s economy and job market.

The IDM industry directly employs 10,900 full-time employees and its economic activity supports a grand total of 16,900 full-time jobs in the wider economy.

The IDM industry generated $1.4 billion of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015. This GDP contribution corresponds to $420 million in taxes across all levels of government

Most Ontario-based IDM companies predominantly create experiences for mobile devices (90%), PC/Mac (68%) and web browser (68%). Almost three quarters (74%) of companies develop experiences for three or more platforms.

Data captured from over 100 IDM companies ranging in size from small independent studios to large multi-national corporations between August and September 2016 explored themes like barriers, growth, workforce, and output.

“This report is the first of its kind in that it provides important insight and clarity into the workings of Ontario’s Interactive Digital Media community,” says Christa Dickenson, Executive Director, Interactive Ontario. “Not only are next-generation ideas from Ontario’s IDM makers putting our province on the map internationally, but these companies are making significant contributions to their local communities and to the Ontario economy,” says Dickenson.

Support for this project was provided by the Ontario Media Development Corporation, the City of Toronto, Ubisoft, Bell Fund, Canadian Media Producers Association and the Canada Media Fund.